Indian boxers have made a strong showing at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with 10 pugilists advancing to the finals. This performance has kept the country’s gold medal aspirations alive in the boxing competition.
Among those who secured their places in the gold medal bouts are Preeti Pawar and Ankush Panghal, both delivering commanding 5-0 victories in their respective semi-final matches. Their wins marked a perfect 2-0 start for India on a crucial semi-final day.
Dominant Performances in Semi-Finals
Preeti Pawar, competing in the women’s 54kg category, out-punched Zambia’s Catherine Mwape with a 5-0 decision. The southpaw boxer controlled the bout from the beginning, forcing a standing count in the first round. She continued her dominance, securing another standing count in the second round and landing clean combinations to seal her unanimous decision victory. Preeti is scheduled to face Canada’s Scarlett Delgado in the gold medal contest.
Ankush Panghal also displayed a dominant performance in the men’s 80kg semi-final, defeating Canada’s Joshua Ofori by a unanimous 5-0 decision. Ankush dictated the pace with sharp combinations and superior footwork, earning a clean verdict from all five judges in the opening round. Despite Ofori’s attempts to increase intensity, Ankush maintained control, using crisp counter-attacks. He will compete against England’s Dimeji Shittu in the gold-medal match.
Other Indian boxers who have reached the finals include Sakshi Chaudhary, Jaismine Lamboria, Priya Ghanghas, Arundhati Choudhary, Lovlina Borgohain, Jadumani Singh Mandengbam, Sachin Siwach, and Narender Berwal.
Key Victories and Upcoming Bouts
Arundhati Choudhary caused an upset in the women’s 70kg semi-finals, defeating defending champion Rosie Eccles with a 4-0 victory. World champion Jaismine Lamboria advanced to the women’s 57kg final after a Referee Stops Contest (RSC) decision against Lesotho’s Rapelang Maselela. Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain secured a 5-0 victory over Tarona Khanum Badi Pasoni Taafaki of Tuvalu in the women’s 75kg category.
Jadumani Singh Mandengbam entered the men’s 55kg final by beating P. P. M. Haoseb of Namibia with a 5-0 decision. Sakshi Chaudhary delivered a strong performance in the women’s 51kg semi-finals, beating Amber Jane Wall of Canada 5-0. Priya Ghanghas also secured a spot in the women’s 60kg final with a 5-0 win against Lucy Kings-Wheatley of England.
Narender Berwal concluded a successful day for India in the ring, securing a unanimous 5-0 decision against Trinidad and Tobago’s Nigel Paul in the men’s 90+kg category. These victories guarantee at least silver medals for the Indian contingent, with the gold medal bouts scheduled to take place on Saturday.
Preeti Pawar expressed her happiness following her victory, stating, “I am very happy that I have managed to do what I prepared for.” She added that she would need to prepare more for the final, making her game plan accordingly and giving her best. She also thanked fans for their support, saying, “This medal is for everyone because the whole of India has high hopes for me and everyone’s prayers and blessings are with me.”
Ankush Panghal, a young boxer who began his journey nine years ago, has shown significant progress. His coach, Pradeep Sawant, noted Ankush’s keenness and ability to grasp things quickly. Ankush became a national champion at 14 and has since performed well in national and international competitions. His father, Manoj Kumar, a former state-level kabaddi player, observed his son’s dedication from an early age. Ankush will face Dimeji Shittu of England in the gold-medal match on Saturday.
Source: m.rediff.com
Arjun Sharma
Sports Reporter